So You Want to Start a Blog?

Hello All,

Its early in 2014 and from looking at other bloggers I know a lot of them started there blogs in January, a new hobby for a new year, this was around the time I started thinking about starting mine and did four LONG months later. I have feeling a lot of people might be looking for outlet to share their thoughts on a blog. So, I figured like a lot of bloggers out their I will give you my advice for starting a blog. 

Now I will be honest with you I don't have a blogging niche, except maybe that I'm a college blogger but I don't write only about organization or fashion or cooking. I write about whatever I please, but more on that later. I also don't have a lot followers right now but I truly believe that I'd rather have a few loyal followers then 100s of followers for status. But here are my tips and rules for blogging. 

1. Blog about what you want!

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My blogging and real life friend Natalie always reminds me when I got all crazy about a blog post that the best posts are always the ones that you love what you are writing about and get excited about. And that is true. The post that has excited me the most is still one of my most popular post and I still love it. Plus if you want to blog about it, it probably means that you know what your trying talking about instead of trying to write about something that you don't do. :)

2. Comment on other Blogs

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Commenting on other blogs does a lot of things. 1. Who wouldn't want to get a little note on something they worked really hard on saying that you loved it! 2. It gets you name out there. I know that whenever someone who I don't know  I click on their name to see who they are and check out their blog. 3. It helps you make bloggy friends, and they make the experience extra special. With all that being said, don't say mean things in comments for other bloggers because remember they worked hard on everything they put out and like ever mother says, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Okay mini rant over. Also, always reply to comments on your blog, it will bring people coming back but also it'll help you make friends. :)

3. When coming up with URL chose something you will stick with

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I originally had a different URL name and then I changed it because it didn't really go with my blog anymore. When I changed the name I lost all of my followers because I had to register my blog on Bloglovin again. I honestly suggest using your name or initials because that way if you get tired of the name you can change it. 

4. Social Media it up

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The more places that you promote your blog the more people are going to see it. I personally use Blog's Facebook Page and my twitter to posts my links on. I actually use my personally twitter as my blog twitter so that people in my everyday life can read posts. 

5. Find your own style

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When I say find your own style I mean write the way you want, if you want to write long paragraphs write long paragraphs, if you want to write lists write lists, if you want to use picture or gifs well you get the points 

6. If you steal an idea give credit

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I know that you are going to see ideas on someone else's blog that you love and want to do on your own. But giver her credit for the idea you can be like "Oh I got this on (insert name here)'s blog" and that way everyone else can see where you got it and maybe you're reader will find a new blog that they love. 

7. Design Your Blog

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The prettier your blog, the more likely someone is going to stay on your blog. I'm not that smart when it comes to how to design the blog but luckily I found Rachel who does awesome blog design and she did mine! She's awesome so go check her out!

8. Remember its YOUR blog, run it the way you want

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Everyone is going to run their blog differently. Some are going to write 7 days a week and write the post on the day it goes live. Some only blog certain days a week. Some blog whenever they want and have not schedule. No way is better then others, because its whatever you want because you are the boss! I personally have a post that goes up M-F at 7 AM but I pre-write EVERYTHING. That way I can make sure I have some M-F and not have to stress about it on stressful days. And then I have editorial calendar that I keep track of what post are going up on which days.